Bar is in a great location along the docks in downtown Auckland. They have a good selection of beers on tap. The bartenders are friendly and quite knowledgeable about what they serve. They also have a large selection of bottle beers to choose from. The prices a bit high but typical for NZ. They also have decent though limited pub grub menu to order from. There is an upstairs patio to enjoy when the weather is cooperative. Best bar I found in downtown Auckland.

Excellent main road location with massive range of bottles from both NZ and further afield. Happy to find the Epicurean fig & coffee stout here. The bar staff know their stuff and are friendly. Food menu looks good value but none sampled on this visit. Plenty of seating and upstairs balcony for those warmer days.

I wasn’t too fussed with BoQ. The pub is large and impersonal, and feels like any modern pub situated in *insert city name here*. The bottle list is extensive yet pricey (no fault of their own, as beer is generally on the higher end price wise in NZ), the taps are shockingly dull. I visited a few times and on each occasion was more than happy to leave after one beer. I really wanted (and tried) to like BoQ but just fell short on my expectations.

Cosey and relative large pub in the city centre. They have some good taps ( a few duoll ones) and a better than good bottle selection. Friendly staff, know what they are selling. Didn’t try their food. This is definately one of the should visit places in Auckland.

Decent selection. This place would only be slightly above average in a better beer location, but Auckland is apparently the craft beer desert. So this is the oasis.

Ambience here is mixed. There are a few good places to sit, but a fair amount of not-so-good places and some wasted space. There are some flat screens for sports and the big games are projected on a retracting screen. Beer knowledge among the staff is above average for NZ and in a couple of cases was excellent (to the point of knowing where else I could find rare NZ craft ales). Selection is just OK and there are some surprises in and amongst the extensive bottle selection. On the recommended list for Auckland craft brew pub-goers.

Simply no way for me to complain, sitting here by the Quay, in this old building amidst the wood panels and beneath the 18 foot ceilings, looking out at the cranes, tops lost in the fog, as they load the freighters, drinking a tall glass of Epic pale, a Rugby match on the television. New Zealand may not be beer nirvana, but I’ve found a lovely atmosphere with a beer that would do OK on the PacNW scene.

So much potential. So much disappointment. Amazing building and a pretty good refit. But the tap selection is yawn except for the well hidden two craft beer taps (which themselves incredibly incite yawns as they rarely change). From time to time the fridge can incite a little bit of excitement, though too often it does not. What could have been...

I was excited to hear this place was opening as Auckland’s CBD has a dearth of pubs with good beer. I was quite disappointed to venture in and see the same old Lion Nathan beers on tap that are available at just about every other bar in the city. The only concession to craft beer was Epic Pale Ale - which at least is good. The bottled range is worth a visit though, albeit pricey. Food is good and decent value for money. Nice location in the old Britomart port precinct and a great renovation job on an old building makes for a very pleasant pub.

I can’t believe this place wasn’t listed here already. This outstanding bar is on Quay Street near Vector Arena on the harbor in downtown Auckland. In an old brick building, the inside has been updated but has a lot of old wood paneling to divide it up and make for a cool, cozy atmosphere. There are 15 taps and 121 bottles by my count as of October 2009, but some of the taps were doubles when I visited (perhaps "up to 15" is more accurate). The bottles are listed by type on the beer menu and come from all over the world, but the strength lies in the New Zealand beers available. There are also some solid Belgians, though most other international beers are cheaper macro lagers. The taps were primarily New Zealand beers, with a good range represented. I tried the Renaissance Elemental Porter (bottle), Emerson’s Pilsner (bottle), and Epic Pale Ale on tap. All were outstanding. The food looked great, but we were between meals and didn’t eat. Prices are just a wee bit high but not too bad. The best bar I visited in Auckland.